French magazine says will publish 'topless snaps of Kate'

A French magazine claims it will publish topless pictures of Prince William's wife Catherine on Friday, apparently taken while the British royal couple were on holiday in France last week.

Announcing a world exclusive, Closer magazine invited readers, via its website, to pick up the new edition and enjoy "the photos that the world can't wait to see; the Duchess of Cambridge topless on a guesthouse terrace".

The story was picked up in the British media on Friday ahead of what would be another embarrassing revelation for the Royal family shortly after a British tabloid published naked pictures of William's brother Harry.

The royal couple are currently in Malaysia where Catherine made her first public comments on foreign soil on Thursday during an Asia-Pacific tour.